The scoop:Mt. Hood Meadows is the busiest of five ski areas on Portland's volcano because it has the best terrain, lifts, programs and snow. Almost always overlooked in ski area ratings by national publications, Meadows nevertheless has terrain and lifts equal to many of the best Rocky Mountain resorts. The only thing it lacks is hotels. Above-treeline runs off Cascade and Vista Express chairs offer an otherworldly experience -- either the beauty of a winter day or raw power of a storm. A good day at Meadows gives you bragging rights down in town. This is its 40th anniversary season.
Location: In the Oregon Cascades on Mount Hood's southeast flank, 67 miles east of Portland and 35 miles south of Hood River

Get there: Most Portlanders drive via U.S. 26 and Oregon 35, but the ski area offers a good bus program as an alternative to driving. Consider going via Hood River (I-84) to avoid traffic jams at Government Camp.

Essentials: This is Oregon. We stay for the day, then go somewhere else to sleep (with a few exceptions). Meadows has side-by-side base lodges with a dozen restaurants/snack bars (best is the Alpenstube in the South Lodge), retail shops and day care; also a skier-services building at Hood River Meadows (the lower parking lot).

Downhill: 11 lifts, including five high-speed quads (Yellow Chair, an original from opening day 1968, was upgraded over the summer and renamed Stadium); 7,300-foot top elevation with 2,777-foot vertical drop; 2,150 skiable acres, plus upper mountain skiing with snowcat transport

Lodging: Meadows also owns Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, 12 miles from the main ski area, with its lodging and fine dining restaurant; Hood River's many lodges are close enough to turn Meadows into a weekend (or longer) destination. Government Camp, too, has seen a boom in luxury lodging with Collins Lake Resort and the Lodge at Government Camp. Lower down the west side, the Resort at the Mountain is a reliable standby.